At least four international airlines have committed to transfer operations to the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA 3), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Wednesday.
Starting this October, there will be a reshuffling of assignments among the airlines operating in the country, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said in a press conference in Pasay City.
The move is intended to make space for flights to and from the United States at NAIA Terminal 1.
“International flights, specifically US flights, which is really giving us more volume in terms of arrival and departure, we will transfer them to Terminal 1,” Monreal said.
Four airlines have committed to transfer their respective operational hubs from NAIA Terminal 1 to NAIA Terminal 3.
The airlines “have volunteered” and the transfers to NAIA 3 “will be implemented soon,” Monreal noted.
The airlines and their respective transfer are:
- Qantas Airways – October 28
- United Airlines – October 28
- Qatar Airways – December 1
- Turkish Airlines – January 1
The airlines are “starting to build their own” offices for the move to NAIA 3, Monreal said.
In the future, there will be domestic flights that will also be moved from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, but details have yet to be finalized. “Meron silang ililipat sa Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 na domestic,” Monreal said.
“At some point we’ll be able to minimize international operations in Terminal 2, because as we all know Terminal 2 is not really designed for international travel,” he added.
Airport authorities earlier said they want to rationalize the NAIA terminals, with Terminals 1 and 3 devoted to international flights, and Terminals 2 and 4 catering to domestic flights
